How thick is the ice? The ice is approximately 3/4" thick and is usually kept at 16 degrees for the proper hardness. The thicker the sheet of ice becomes, the softer and slower it is.

What are the standard dimensions of the rink? The NHL standard rink is 200" by 85", although some do vary. International rinks are wider.

How are the markings - the red and blue lines, goal lines, crease and face-off circles - applied to the ice? The ice is built up to a half-inch thickness by spraying water over the concrete floor, which has the freezing pipes embedded into it. Then the markings are painted on, after which additional water is sprayed to coat the markings and build the ice to the prescribed thickness.

What is the puck made of? The puck is made of vulcanized rubber, is three inches in diameter and one inch thick and weighs six ounces. It is frozen before entering play to make it bounce resistant.

How fast does the puck travel? Some professional players can shoot the puck between 90-100 miles per hour. Speeds of up to 120 miles per hour have actually been recorded by some of the hardest shooters in hockey.

Which shot is the hardest for a goalie to stop? Generally speaking, it is one that is low and to the stick side. Some goaltenders overplay to the stick side, presenting a more inviting target on the glove side.

What about deflections? Many people think that deflections are mere luck. Actually, players practice deflections by standing off to the side or in front of the net and deflecting shots from that position into another area of the goal. Seldom does a goaltender have sufficient time to react to a deflection since the puck suddenly changes direction off an offensive players stick.

Which is tougher for the goalie to stop, a slap shot or a wrist shot? The slap shot, while harder and faster, is easier for the goalie to time than a wrist shot, which takes the goalie more by surprise.

Can a puck be kicked into the net for a score? A puck cannot intentionally be kicked in and still count as a goal. However, a puck can be deflected off a skate or a players body and still count as a goal if no attempt was made to deliberately throw or kick it in.

What if an offensive player is in the crease? If he is there under his own power and the puck goes in, the goal is disallowed. A goal can be awarded if the player was forced into the crease or held there by a defensive player. An offensive player is allowed to carry the puck into the crease and score.

Why do goalies frequently come out of in front of their net? Usually when a goalie leaves the area immediately in front of the goal it is to reduce the shooting area, cut down the angle of the shooter or force the offensive player to release his shot before he would like to. After coming out of the net, the goalie is usually backing up slowly in an attempt to get the shooter to commit himself first.

Who gets credited for an assist? The last player or players (no more than two) who touch the puck prior to the goal scorer are awarded assists. For example, if player A passes to player B who passes to player C who scores a goal; players A and B get assists.

What is plus/minus rating? The plus/minus rating indicated the overall success of a player while he is on the ice. A +1 is awarded to each player on the ice when his team scores an even strength or shorthanded goal. A -1 is awarded to each player on the ice when a goal is scored against their team. Goalies are not included.

What are hockey sticks made of? Hockey sticks are made of wood, generally northern white ash or rock elm, or aluminum. The handle is one piece and the laminated wooden blade is affixed to it.

Are all sticks alike? Far from it. Just as baseball players have individually personalized bats, so too do hockey players have their own patterned sticks. Flexibility, the angle of the blade, weight, etc., vary from player to player.

When does icing occur? Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck from within his or her own offensive zone across the opponents goal line. Icing is nullified if:

(1) the team shooting the puck is shorthanded;

(2) a player from the defending team could have played the puck before it crossed the goal line; or

(3) a player from the icing team plays the puck before it crosses the goal line.